Vending machine



May 23, 1939. F. M. MoNlNGl-:R 2,159,905

VENDING MACHIANE Filed Oct. 14, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY' W ATTORNEYS.

May 23, l939 F. M. MONINGR i, 2,159,905

vENDING MACHINE Filed oct. 14, 195e 4 sma m-smmA s 9 y I v v INVENToR.

fP/V/f Maly/N65@ BY W A TToRNEYs f May 23, 1939.A

F. M. MONINVGER VENDING MACHINE Filed oct. 14,'1936 4 sheets-sheet 4 vIN V EN TOR.

FPA/wr f. fam/65e #Lm A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 23, 1939 earner certes vENDING MACHINE Frank Meningen Leslineales. Callie assigne er, te.. Snrtsmans. Meniife eorlieraltieil. ef.Neva#a tn'hutiilg (lointains,v Ine.,

tur 11g. and 1,495. angeles. Cabin.

Thiszinventionrelates. tdvending, on dispensing machines, and has` for.anl object the provision. oi amacbine adapted to.dispense.round orspher. cal objects. Wheieas the'. device of; the. present inventionvhas. been designed primarily for use` in` dispensing golf' balls, itvshould be understood that it is of equal'= utility. in. vendingotherrQund orl sphericak obects, such as gum. or candy inthe form of' balls;marbles, tennis, or other types, of balls, or the like. WithA this broadobject in view the. present invention; .constitutes anA improve: ment@ver that forming the.- subject matter of` Patent Number 1i, 952,2if1=,A issued March 2U, i934, to Clarence F;

A more detailed; object. .of the present invention is. .to provide aydispensing machine of the generali character described wherein. a newprin. ciple of Operation of the mechanism for releasing a. predeterminednumber oid the sphericai objects 20, is` introduced, amo-rigtheadvantages. o-ff which are more prompt and. positive release of the,objects to be dispensed each time the machine is actuated, and morepositive retention of thev .other objects, intended to be kept Withinthe storage 25 magazine, whereby .greater vassurance is. gained that theperson operating the. machine. will rereceive full measure and not more.oi the articles. to which ne is entitled.r

A further object. Lis. to provide a dispensing machine having, amongothers, the advantages above referred to, `and. the .opera-tion ci whichis dependent .ii-non mechanical means, only, i.. e., does not invoivethe use of electromagnets or other electrically operated devices,whereby the device is adapted for successful .operation witheut theinconvenience kof connecting it .toy a source of electrical ener-gy,andeven ein cemmunites where no `electr-ical energy is available.

A further object is to provide an improved and simpiied and highlyAeicient type of storage magazine wherein all the articles to be vendedare arranged in aereuitcus single row, al1 portiene (1f-which :are latall times visible to hersens in front of the machine. This is a detailwhich enhances 4the value of lthe vending machine as such, since itis awell :known principle of sales engineering that the appeal of objectsoffered for sale to possible purchasers is greatly increasedby exposing4these articlesto thefullviewof passers by, thus making them consciousof the desirable features of the articiesandimpressingumn them theirready availability.

A further object is te provide a vending .machine having the abovedescribed characteristics, in the design ef .which particular .attention:has

been. paid to simplicity and economy Off @instr-lief. tiert. withoutimpairing the. pcsitiveness. and: dependabllity of= its operation, not,Qii'lt. foi: ith@ purpose Of'reducine. itsccst of manufacture. but.

aise, for the purpese oi reducing the ever-,alldi- 5 f mansions of theassembled machu-ie; so as to. enr;V large. the eld of its adaptabilitv`by. increasing the. number.V of. lbcations in. which, it is adapted'tothe installed; e

The entien pessesses. 9th rebieetsiear.. 10 turesoi-advantase, SQmeOgoing, will be seti-.Orth in he iel tion. 0.1? the,v preferred. ferm 0fcmy i is illustrated. the drawings. ase l. forming a part ef the.Seeeifreatiea. It is te. be. under-steed; that l tio. nei 1i.. it.myself te the snowing matie by the seid. drawings.. and; deserte: tion,as. I- admet, veriatieils 0f: the. preferred form mini the seo-pe et myiatentieri forth inthe. .e1a1;1frf1lsy J Referring.- .te the drawings;Fiel-1re .1; is a new in freni eie ten of the. enlarging this view themagazine is hereE u x fietaeheii item tee einer eielaeets ai .iles neuse; machine,-

gere 2 a rear elevation er1. e redueefi seal@ Showing the assembledmeehiiief. et

rieure is atea plea Figurer. 4, is a View end- ,eleiaiien the i1-ire@-tion 'bf view beine indicate@ .by trie. arrow 4 ier. li'ie.` .2..

fi-'ieure 5 is e detail. View in freni elevation ef tile ,Siep meeealesmwherebye .predetermined number et Qbieets is released fram thedispensing For the purpose 0f; clarity Ofidiselesure this is here .shewndetached .from .the remainder ofthe meeiiie f 4o Figure 631e eperepeetve View ef the strutture Shown 11.1

Figure 7: ie a tes elan View ef the Strutture Shawn in Fie.- 5

Figure a transverse. vertieel seetional view. the plane efeeetierl heinetaken. geen the 8-3 Aof Fie. 7I .and the .direction` ,0i new beineindicated les.' the arrows.,

Fieuref? is a View Similar .t0 Fie. .8 but. with the plane Of sectionindicated by the line E19. of Fis. 7 and thev direction ci view by thearrows.Y AFigure 101s a perspective view of .the .eoinf actuated meansfor operating the y.machine and for predetermning the number 0f objectsto be. dispensed at eachaetuation, .andalso showing a portion of themechanism for resetting the machine to put it in readiness for the nextactuation.

In terms of broad inclusion the present invention contemplates theprovision of a dispensing machine adapted to release a dierent number ofthe articles to be dispensed, this number depending upon the manner inwhich the operator actuates the machine. In other words, by depositing acoin of a certain denomination, in its proper coin slot, a predeterminednumber of objects will be delivered to the operator, that number beingappropriate to the denomination of the coin, whereas if a coin ofdifferent denomination is used and deposited in the proper coin slot, adifferent number of objects will be delivered, this number again beingappropriate to the denomination of the coin. The mechanism whereby theseresults are accomplished is designed to yield an improved and simpliedtype of construction whereby positiveness of operation is assured so asto prevent all possibility of delivery of more of the dispensed objectsthan the operator is actually entitled to receive and yet to cause themachine to operate satisfactorily and with the utmost sureness todeliver the proper number of objects.

Whereas the dispensing machine of the present invention is adaptable byslight modification for use in dispensing a wide variety of spherical orround objects, the modification chosen for illustration and descriptionin the present specication is designed to dispense golf balls. Itcomprises a housing II, the predominating feature of which is a magazineI2, preferably of rectangular form and relatively thin in comparison toits height and width, inasmuch as it is intended to accommodatethereinside only a single row of the golf balls I3 to be dispensed.Secured to the back of the magazine I2 and adjacent its lower edge is arelatively small housing I4 for theaccommodation of the dispensingmechanism; and at one side of the housing II is a receptacle I6 havingahinged lid II which receptacle is adapted to receive the golf balls I3released from the magazine I2 and there be made available to theoperator.

Inside the magazine I2, the front face of which preferably is formed ofglass I'I, a .plurality of wedge shaped tongues I8 project from bothside walls. These tongues I8, which are arranged in alternation witheach other, extend not quite all the way across the magazine, therebyleaving an opening I 9 at the end of each tongue large enough to permita golf ball I3 to drop therethrough from the outer end of one tongue I8to the inner end of the next tongue therebelow. These tongues beingwedge shaped, a circuitous or zigzag path is provided for the single rowof golf balls I3, thus making it possible to store a relatively largenumber of balls in such a manner that they are urged at all times bygravity toward a delivery opening 2| which is provided in one of theside walls of the magazine I2 adjacent the bottom thereof. An inletopening 22 is also provided adjacent the top of the magazine I2 inposition to permit the ball I3 to be inserted on` top of the uppermosttongue I8. Preferably a locked cap 23 is provided for the opening 22, sothat unauthorized persons cannot have access to the interior of themagazine. rI'he outlet opening 2I leads to the receptacle I E so thatballs I3 released from the magazine I 2 drop into the receptacle I6whence they can easily be removed by the operator merely by lifting thehinged lid I'I.

Means are provided for releasing a predetermined number of the golfballs I3, which number however is dependent upon the manner in which themachine is operated; that is to say, by operating the machine in oneparticular way, a certain number of golf balls may be released to thereceptacle I6, and by operating it in another way another certain numberof balls I3 will be released. This releasing mechanism, which iscontained within the auxiliary housing It, is best shown on Figs. 5 to9, inclusive, comprising a rigid bar 3I mounted preferably at its endson the opposed side walls 32 of the auxiliary housing Iii and extendingclosely adjacent and parallel to the back wall 33 of the magazine I2. Aplurality of tubular guides 34 are rigidly mounted upon the bar 3I, eachof these extending preferably to the back wall 33 of the magazine I2 andhaving reciprocably mounted therein a pin 33, each of which issufficiently longer than the associated guide 3i to permit it to extend,under certain conditions to be described hereinbelow, through the wall33 and into the magazine and into the path of the golf balls I3 in theirmovement along the inclined plane of their support toward the deliveryopening 2I. Each of the pins 35 is provided with a shoulder 31 (see Fig.9) and a coil spring 38 under compression between the shoulder 31 andthat end of the guide SII which is proximal to the magazine I2continuously urging the pin 36 away from the magazine. In other words,the coil springs 38 are at all times urging the pin 36 or stop out ofthe path of the golf balls I3.

Behind the rod 3I and parallel thereto a shaft dI is revolubly mounted,also preferably in the side wall 32 of the auxiliary housing M. Thisshaft is continuously urged to rotate by means of a drum 42 upon which atape 43, of metal or other material, is wound. A coil spring MI is undertension between the outer end of the tape d3 and the back wall of theauxiliary housing III, the parts being so arranged that the energyexerted by the spring IM continuously urges the shaft Il to rotate.

The shaft 4I carries a plurality of cams li, one such cam beingassociated with and disposed in registry with each of the pins, orstops, 36. These cams 46 are so disposed upon the shaft III that theirrespective high points are progressively angularly offset from eachother about the axis of the shaft III. is opposite to that in which theshaft is urged to rotate by the spring lili as the distance of the camsd6 increases from the wall of the magazine I2 in which the deliveryopening 2I is provided. In other words, when the cam 46 proximal to thewall in which the delivery opening 2! is so positioned that it engagesits associate pin 33 and forces it into the magazine I2, the nextadjacent stop has not quite reached its position of engagement with itsassociated pin, the stop 43 be- 5.-'

yond that is still farther from its position of engagement with itsassociated pin, and so on.

Thus it may be seen that the distance through which the shaft II ispermitted to rotate determines which of the stops 36 will be thrustinto. the

magazine and into the path of the golf balls. The normal position forthe shaft 4I, i. e., the position assumed thereby when the machine isinoperative. is with the cam IIS which is proximal to the deliveryopening 2l in engagement with its associated pin 3B. For convenienceduring the further description, this cam will be identified by thenumeral M, and its associated Stop or pin by the numeral 48.

,An additional stop 5I, similar to the stops 36 The direction of thisoffsetting .3.;

amamos' and: 68? previously described',y is supported at suit'- ableelevation above the bar k by mean-sf of, a bracket 521 mounted upon` anarm 63: extending rigidlyfromV the bar 31T.. The pin or stop 5l ispressed by' a spring' (not shown in. a manner similar to that of the.previously describedpinsi- 36` and 48, being mounted in a guide' tube 54`which is rigid with the bracket 5I;4 Instead of being engaged by' acai-n; however, the pin 511i is` adapted to be pressed into operativeposition byV means of an obliquely extending finger .'16i which isrigidly mounted upon la vertically reciprocable; rack 51 slidablymounted upon the rigid arm 53. .'I-he teeth 584 'ot the rack 5-1 areengaged with a pinion 5S which is carried by the shaft H, the partsbeing 4so proportioned and arranged that when the shaft 4I? rotates inthat direction which causes either H, the cams 46 Vto engage theirrespective stops 36 in their order of those stops or their distance fromthe-Wall 4in which the delivery opening 2| is provided, theV pinion 58will cause the rack 5-1 to be raised bringing the inclined linger 56into engagement with its stop 'di at such time that after the last pin36 carried by the hor-i'- zontalbar 3i is, extended and then retracted,the

upper pin 5I will be pushed intoy operative position vVilhereasvr anyappropriate spacing -for the pins 48, 36 and 5| may be employed, thatarrangement which is preferred for the present modifie-ation can be bestunderstood by reference to Fig. 1-, which shows the rst pin ,-36--aspaced V`from the pin 48 far enough yto receive but one rgolf ball I3'.`4The second pin 36--b is sov spaced from the pin :i6-a that two golfballs i3 are spaced therebetween, making a total oththree4 balls betweenpin 36b and the -pi-n 4B The pins 36---12v and 36--c `accommodatefourballs therebetween, thus making atotal of seven balls between thepin- 48 and the -pin 36--e The upper pin A5l is 4spaced a, considerablygreater distance from the -pin Sii-c, accommodating Il ballstherebetween, or atotal of eighteen between the pinl and the -pin 48, K

The pinshave been arranged to `accommodate balls therebetween inaccordance with the above description inasmuch Yas 'the lcoin actuatedmechanism is intended to be operated by coins Vci diierentdenominations, in the 'present modification by a ten-cent piece, atwenty-ve-cent piece, a fifty-cent piece and one dollar, The mechanismis so arranged, as will be described yhereinbelow, that when a ten-cent-piece'is deposited, one ball will be delivered; a twenty-ve-cent-piece, three balls; a fifty-cent piece, seven balls, and -a dollar,eighteen balls; the purpose being to urge the operator to use a coin oflarger denomination because of the proportionally greater number ofballs he receives lfor -his money. 'Ifhe coin actuated mec ihanisrnconsists of a=plurality of arms 66, 61, 68 and '69, -mounted 'forrocking movement about a vertically kextending jpintle 1l, each of thearms V66 to 69, inclusive, is provided with a separate spring 12 urgingthe associated end of that arm toward the jrack 51 and intopositionabove a stop lrcarried thereby., The sspacing between 'the .several arms66 jtol, inclusiveis such that by removingthe lowermost arm 66 from theypath of lthe stop 1-3 the rack Y51 visn-permitted to rise 4far roiigh-to pemttheshaft 4l to turn farer'ioug'h Vto remove the cam 41 from`itsrenga'genient with the pin and to cause the Afir-st cam W6 tto pushIits lassociated stoppin `35i-41, into the magasine. r'hi's'will releaseone golf ball I3. The Ispacing'heini/eenthe remaining armsl 61, 68 and69, is the same; `thus when the two lowermost. arms 66 and 61 are. bothwithdrawn from the path of the stop 13, the pin 48 will first beretracted, the pin .3G- a will be extended and then retracted, and thepin. 36-b will be extended and lett extended,v thus releasing threegolf.' bal-ls. In a similar manner, withdrawal ofV the three lowermostarms 66,. 61 and 68 will re'-Vv lease the seven balls between the pin 48and the pin 36-c, and retraction of all the armsy 66, 6.1

68 and 69 will release the entirey eighteen ballsV between the pin 48andi the pin 5l.

Preferably a separate coin receiver is provided for each of the arms 66to 69 inclusive. The coin receiver 116, associated with the lowermostarm 616, comprises a plate 11 havin-g an aperture large enough to.receive a ten-cent piece therein, adapted to be brought into registrywith 'a similar aperture 18 in. the guide- 16 through which the plate'l1 is -reciprocable The inner end 8| ot the plate 11 is bent upward farenough to engageonly thearm 66'. Suitable mechanism (not shown) isprovided for preventing movement of the plate 11 unless a` coin of theproper denomination is employed.

The remaining arms 61, 68 and 69 are provided with individual coinreceivers 82, 83 and 84, respectively, which are similar to the receiver16, except that their respective apertures are of appropriate sizestoreceive twenty-five cents, Titty cents and one dollar respectively,and with the further exception that their inner ends 861, 81 and v88,respectively, are adapted to engage two, three and four of the arms,respectively. Thus, for example, when tlfre` fifty-cent coin receiver isactuated, the three lowermost arms 66, 61 and 68 will be removed 'fromthe .path of the Astop 13. It is-'believed that the result of operationof each of the other coin mechanisms will be understood.

Means are provided for returning the parts to initial position forsubsequent operation. In the present modication this return mechanismis. actuated by the operator when he `raises the cover 4l1 of thereceptacle i6, which he must do in order to receive the golf balls whichhave been released from the magazine I2. As stated hereinabove, thecover l1 is 'mounted for pivotal movement. It carries an arm 9| (Figs. 2and 10)., so proportioned and arranged that when the cover Y I1 israised the inner end of the arm 9| moves downward into engagement withthe upper end of the rack At1,` preferably seating within asuitable'socket 92 there provided and-forces the rack' downward. It isbelieved that the manner of operation of my improved dispensing `machinewill be apparent lfrom `the above `description of its constituent parts.Suiiice it -to say, therefore, that each `time the machine is operated anumber of golf balls, determined -by the 'denomination of theccinemployed, will be released Yfrom the machine to vthe receptacle i6 fromwhich they can be removed by `the operator merely by raising the lid l1,and then when the operator Vraises the lid so as to secure theballswhich he has purchased, themachine will be reset forsubsequentoperation.

`I claim:

1. In a device of the characterdescribed,1amagazine for storing aplurality of objects y-to be dispensed and having an outlet openingfordelivery of said objects, means guiding said objects in apredetermined path toward said outlet,a plurality of movable stopsmounted adjacent the path-of said objects in moving toward said opening,said stops being disposed at successively greater distances from saidopening to receive a diierent number of said objects between the stopproximal to said opening and each of the others of said stops, meansyieldably urging all of said stops out of operative position, saidproximal stop being normally maintained in operative position, a shaftrotatably mounted adjacent said stops, a plurality of cams rigid withsaid shaft, each in position to engage one of said stops and force itinto operative position, said cams being progressively angularly offsetwith respect to each other about the axis of said shaft whereby theyactuate said stops successively in their order of distance from saiddelivery opening, and means for rotating said shaft.

2. In a device of the character described, a magazine for storing aplurality of objects to be dispensed and having an outlet opening fordelivery of said objects, means guiding said objects in a predeterminedpath toward said outlet, a plurality of movable stops mounted adjacentthe path of said objects in moving toward said opening, said stops beingdisposed at successively greater distances from said opening toreceive'a different number of said objects between the stop proximal tosaid opening and each of the others of said stops, means yieldablyurging all of said stops out of operative position, said proximal stopbeing normally maintained in operative position, a shaft rotatablymounted adjacent said stops, a plurality of cams rigid with said shaft,each in position to engage one of said stops and force it into operativeposition, said cams being progressively angularly offset with respect toeach other about the axis of said shaft whereby they actuate said stopssuccessively in their order of distance from said delivery opening,means for rotating said shaft, and means for limiting the extent ofrotation of said shaft, said limiting means being variable to eiectactuation of a selected number of said stops.

3. In a device of the character described, a magazine for storing aplurality of objects to be dispensed and having an outlet opening fordelivery of said objects, means guiding said objects in a predeterminedpath toward said outlet, a plural ity of movable stops mounted adjacentthe path of said objects in moving toward said opening, said stops beingdisposed at successively greater distances from said opening to receivea different number of said objects between the stop proximal to saidopening and each of the others ofvsaid stops, means yieldably urging allof said stops out of operative position, said proximal stop beingnormally maintained in operative position, a shaft rotatably mountedadjacent said stops, a plurality of cams rigid with said shaft, each inposition to engage one of said stops and force it into operativeposition, said cams being progressively angularly oiiset with respect toeach other about the axis of said shaft whereby they actuate said stopssuccessively in their order of distance from said delivery opening,means for rotating said shaft, a pinion carried by said shaft, a rackenmeshed with said pinion and mounted for longitudinal reciprocatorymovement, an abutment carried by said rack, a plurality of spaceddetents normally disposed in the path of said abutment, and means formoving a selected number of said detents out of the path of saidabutment.

4. In a device of the character described, a magazine for storing aplurality of objects to be dispensed and having an outlet opening fordelivery of said objects, means guiding said objects in a predeterminedpath toward said outlet, a plurality of movable stops mounted adjacentthe path of said objects in moving toward Said opening, said stops beingdisposed at successively greater distances from said opening to receivea different number of said objects between the -stop proximal to saidopening and each of the others of said stops, means yieldably urging allof said stops out of operative position, said proximal stop beingnormally maintained in operative position, a shaft rotatably mountedadjacent said stops, a plurality of cams rigid with said shaft, each inposition to engage one of said stops and force it into operativeposition, said cams being progressively angularly offset with respect toeach other about the axis of said shaft whereby they actuate said stopssuccessively in their order of distance from said delivery opening,means for rotating said shaft, a pinion carried by said shaft, a rackenmeshed with said pinion and mounted for longitudinal reciprocatorymovement, an abutment carried by said rack, a plurality of spaceddetente normally disposed in the path of said abutment, means for movinga selected number of said detents out of the path of said abutment, anadditional stop mounted in position to extend into said path of saidobjects and spaced therealong the greatest distance of any of said stopsfrom said delivery opening, means yieldably urging said additional stopout of operative position, and means carried by said rack for actuatingsaid additional Stop only after all of said cams have released theirrespective stops.

5. In a device of the character described, a magazine for storing aplurality of objects to be dispensed and having an outlet opening forthe delivery of said objects, means guiding said objects in apredetermined path toward said outlet, a plurality of movable stopsmounted adjacent the path y of said objects in moving toward saidopening, one of said stops being proximal to said opening and the otherstops being arranged at different distances therefrom along said path toaccommodate a different number of said objects between said proximalstop and each of said other stops, means for successively effectingwithdrawal of said stops from said path in the order of their distancefrom said opening and for positively thrusting a stop further from saidopening into said path before withdrawal of any one of said stops iscompleted.

6. In a device of the character described, a magazine for storing aplurality of objects to be dispensed and having an outlet opening forthe delivery of said objects, means guiding said objects in apredetermined path toward said outlet opening, a plurality of movablestops mounted adjacent the path of said objects in moving towardopening, one of said stops being proximal to said opening and the otherstops being arranged at different distances therefrom along said path toaccommodate a different number of said objects between said proximalstop and each of said other stops, means for successively effectingwithdrawal of said stops from said path in the order of their distancefrom said opening and for positively thrusting a stop further from saidopening into said path before withdrawal of any one of said stops iscompleted, and variable means for limiting the extent of action of saidwithdrawal-effecting means.

7. In a device of the character described, a magazine for storing aplurality of objects to be dispensed and having an outlet opening forthe delivery of said objects, means guiding said objects in apredetermined path toward said outie't, a plural ity of movable stopsmounted adjacent the path of said objects in moving toward said opening,one oi said stops being proximal to said opening and normally inoperative position and the other stops being normally in inoperativeposition and arranged at diierent distances therefrom along said path toaccommodate a different number of said objects between said proximalstop and each of said other stops, yieldable means urging each of saidstops out of said path, positioning means for placing said stops intoquantity selecting positional relation with respect to predeterminednumbers of said objects, said positioning means comprising cam means forforcing said stops into said path in number grouping selecting position,and means for actuating said cam means.

8. In a device of the character described, a magazine for storing aplurality of objects to be dispensed and having an outlet opening forthe delivery of said objects, means guiding said objects in apredetermined path toward said outlet, a plurality of movable stopsmounted adjacent the path of said objects in moving toward said opening,one of said stops being proximal to said opening and the other stopsbeing arranged at difierent distances therefrom along said path toaccommodate a diierent number of said objects between said proximal stopand each of said other stops, yieldable means urging each of said stopsout of said path, cam means for forcing said stops into said path, andmeans for actuating said cam means, said cam means being interconnectedand arranged to force one of said stops into said path before the camassociated with the stops nearer to said opening move to releasingposition.

FRANK M. MONINGER.

